Ignition-switch



C. T. MASON.

IGNITION SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED AuG.I. Isn.

1,349,080. Pawntedfxug. 10,1920.

RUN/WN s P05.

UNITED vSTATES CARL T. MASON,

PATENT OFFICE. i

OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO SPLITDORF ELEC- TRICAL COMPANY, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

IGNITION-SWITCH.

Application led August 1. 1917.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, CARL T. MAsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at East Orange, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ignition- Switches, of which the following is a speciication.

In the operation of internal combustion engines, particularly those used in aero or h vdro planes, it is common practice to use double ignition, preferably two high tension magnetos; and in order that the operator may have at his command means for determining the workable state of the two magnetos the controlling switch must be so arranged that either magneto may be operated independent of the other on its respective spark plugs, also both magnetos must be capable of working together in order to get the maximum power from the engine. The control switch must also be adapted to cut out both magnetos for the purpose of stopping the engine.

It is the object of my invention to provide a switch adapted for this work which shall be simple, compact, positive in its action and not subject to trouble.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification,` Figure 1 is a perspective view of the switch block with the cover and operating parts removed.

Fig. 2 is a part elevational and sectional view of the switching member.

Fig. 3 is an elevational View of the switch handle.

Fig. 4 is a front view of the switch cover.

Fig. 5 is a perspective View of the back of the switch cover with a portion broken away to show various details.

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view of the two high tension magnetos and a starting coil controlled by the switch.

Figs. 7 to 10 inclusive illustrate diagrammatically the various positions of the switching member of the switch shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 11 shows an alternative form of switch which may be connected to the magnetos.

Figs. 12 to 15 inclusive show various positions 'of the switching member of the switch shown in Fig. 11.

Referring now particularly to the details, in which the same numbers refer to corresponding parts lin the various views, l is the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 10, 1920.

Serial No. 183.975.

base of the switch carrying the various contact studs 2 to 7 inclusive. These studs pro- ]ect through the base 1 and have suitable connectors on the back thereof for making the necessary wire connections. It will be noted that the contact terminal 7 is arcuate 1n form for a purpose whichA will be apparent from the description following. A p ortion of the base 1 is cut away along the line ab@ so that the contact terminals 2, 3, 4 and 5 project above the surface bounded by the line ab@ to a height parallel with the front face 8 of the base 1. The arcuate contact 7 is flush with the surface of the face 8 as is also contact terminal 6 around which there is a depressed annular area 9 of substantially the same depth as the depressed surface bounded by the line abc. The entire base 1 is preferably of insulating material in which the contact terminals 2 to 7 inclusive are molded. 10 and 11 are inserts also molded in the base 1 for the reception of the screws 12 which are used for holding the cover 13 to the base 1. The base 1 preferably has a ledge 14 against which the rim 1.5 of the cover 13 engages. The rim 15 has two alinement notches 16 that engage corresponding projections 17 on the base 1. Pin 18 is preferably set in the base 1 to aline with the slot 19 in the rim 15 so that the cover 13 can be placed on the switch base 1 in only one position. An insert 20 having a hole 21 is also molded in the base 1 for the reception of bearing stud 22 of the switching member whereby the switching member is supported and guided. The switching member shown in Fig. 2 is a unitary structure assembled on stud 22 and consists of a separate unitary structure 25 made up of a number of flexible switch blades, preferably of good conducting material such as copper or bronze having their ends bent over to form knife edges and held against but insulated from the hub of arm 24 by a clamping piece 23 which also serves as a wearing piece as will be explained later.

31 which is flattened oil at 32 so theswitch handle 33 can be inserted inonly one way and since the pin 30 engages the flat surface 32 an operating connection is made whereby the switch may be rotated by the handle The switch blades riveted together' by rivets 48 and constituting the unitary switch structure 25, are preferably made so that the inner ones 34 of each group are somewhat shorter than the outer ones 35 so that when the switching member is placed in position on the base 1 and cover 13 drawn into place, the outer members 35 will be sprung back when they come into engagement with their respective contacts on base 1 for the purpose of equalizing as far as possible the pressure on all blades.

Referring to Fig. 5 the switch cover rim 15 has 'fastened to it by rivets 36 a plate of goed wearing material such as bronze or steel. ln the plate 37 are stop holes 3S oi suitable size to receive that portion of the ball 2S projected from the arm 27 whereby when the switchv handle :lis operated in accordance with the marking on the switch cover, shown in Fig. 4, the position of the switch member will. be plainly deincd to the operator by reason of the stops produced. by the ball 2S engaging the holes 38. rllhe rivets 36 while acting to rivet the. plate 7a to the rim 15 also act as end stops for the arm 37 so that the switch member can be operated only so far in either direction indicated by the off and both shown in Fig. 4. For the purpose of assembly and to prevent the screws becoming lost when the switch cover 13 is removed from the base 1 the screws 12 are notched out at 3f). Over the screws 12 are placed collars .40 which are indented at 41, which indentation is within the path of the notch 39 so that the collar 4l() will not drop olf the screws 12 or the screws 12 drop from the switch cover 13. The collars 40 also serve as spacing members between the front of the cover 1 3 and the base 1 so that the front of the cove can not be sprung when the screws l2 are drawn up. In assembling when the screws 12 are Strawn up the face ot 'switch cover 13 around the handle 'hole 4.4 engages the shoulder l5 on stop 'arm 24 to push the switching member into position so plate 23 engages the insert 20. Holes42 are provided in the switch cover 13 for mounting the switch on its 'mo'untin g plate.

condenser is connected and for the purpose of controlling each, that portion of the circuit breaker connected to the primary of the operating winding is/connected to the terminal contacts 2 and 5 of the switch; 2 being connected on the interior of the molded base 1 to the contact 1 and 3 to the contact 5 as indicated in Fig. or the contacts may be connected together by straps on the rear portion of the switch base 1. l illustrates diagrammatically an inductorium such as a vibrator of any suitable type to which one terminal of battery B is connected. The other terminal is connected to one contact of a special switch X. The induction coil I may be used in the organization shown in Fig. G for the purpose of boosting the effect of the magneto primary P whereby a spark is obtained from either' magneto to which the inductorium 1 may be connected at very low rotative speeds of the engine. After the engine has been started the switch X may be thrown to the ground position so that either one of the magnctos may be pnt out of commission in order that the operator can determine if the other is working as it should. The functions performed by the switch are plainly indicated by the Figs. 7 to 10 inclusive in connection with Fig. 6 so that further description is not necessary.

lllhere the inductorium 1 is not employed, a switch preferably constructed as shown in Fig. 11 is used, and the wire from contact 2 connected to lead B. (Fig. (i) and the wire from contact 5 connected to lead A. vari- 100 ous positions of the switch and the functions performed being clearly indicated in Figs. 12 to 15 inclusive. The switch shown in Fig. G may be utilized .for the switch in Fig. 11 by merely connectingr the terminals 105 6 and T together on the back of the switch.

ln aeronautic work it is extremely essential that the switch controlling the magnetos shall be positive in its action electrically and mechanically and by my construc- 110 tion of switch. as herein described. l have obtained a switch in which the switch blades do not come in contact with anything except the metal contact studs themselves so that there is no liability of the switch blades 115 getting dirty by rubbing over the insulation as in previous types of switches. Surface leakage is also out down and Vl have provided a switch which. gives positive indications ot the position of the switch blades and 120 one that is easy to take apart and put t0- gether should the occasion require.

.lt will be apparent that numerous changes may be made in the details without departing from the spirit of my invention or the 125 scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what l claim is 1. In a switch of the class described, the combination of a base having contact termi- 130 nals mounted thereon and a central guiding piece, a switching memberl consisting of a series of switch blades arranged on a central bearing stud and a stop arm carried on the bearing stud adjacent the switch blades, a cover for the switch base and a removable handle adapted to pass through the cover and to engage the switching member, said central guiding piece being adapted'to receive said central bearing stud to assist said handle in operating the switching member, said cover carrying means coacting with the stop arm to define the position of the switch handle as described.

2. In a switch of the class described, the combination of a base having contact terminals mounted thereon and having a central guiding piece, a switching member consisting of the following instrnmentalitics a central bearing stud reduced at one end to coeperate with said guiding piece of said base and bored out at the other end to receive a switch handle, a series of switch blades securelymounted on said central bearing stud but insulated therefrom, and a stop arm mounted on said switch adjacent to said switch blades and carrying a yielding stop member; a cover for said switch base and means for fastening the two together, said base material being belowthe surface of said contact terminals adjacent thereto whereby said switch blades come in contact only with metal portions of said terminals, and means carried on said cover adapted to coact with said stop arm and yielding stop carried thereby, for positively defining the position of said switch blades on said contact terminals.

In a switch of the class described, the combination of a base having contact terminals'mounted thereon, a switching member adapted to coact with said contact terminals consisting of the following instrumentalities: a central bearing stud having one end adapted to coperate with said base to guide the switchingl member the other end to receive a handle, a stop arm fastened to said bearing stud and carrying yielding [stop means, a wearing plate fastened to said stud and adapted to securely clamp a series of insulated switch blades against the hub of said stop arm', a cover, and means coacting between the cover can be applied to the base in only one position, means for holding the cover securely to said base and means carried by the cover adapted to coact with said stop arm and yielding stop to define the position of said switch blades on said contact, as described.

4. In a switch of the class described, the combination of a base and a cover adapted to fit the base in only one position, a switching member within the cover having a stud with one end coperating with the base t0 cover and base whereby said guide the switching member and the other end adapted to receive a handle through the cover, switch blades insulated from but fastened to the stud by a clamping plate said clamping plate also serving as a wearing plate against said base when the cover is drawn into position on the base, a stop arm carried by said stud and coacting with the cover to define the position of the 'switch blades, as described.

In a switch of the class described, the combination of a base and a cover adapted to lit the base in only one position, a switching member within the cover having a stud with one end cooperating with the base to guide the switching member and the other end adapted to receive a handle through the cover, switch blades 'insulated from but fastened to the stud by a clamping plate said clamping plate also serving as a wearing plate against said bas when the cover is drawn into position on the base, and means to prevent the cover from being distorted when drawn to operative position, a stop plate carried b y the flange of the cover and having holes therein with stop pins at its extremities, a stop arm carried by said stud, a ball yieldingly mounted in the end of said arm and adapted to cooperate with the holes in the stop plate to define the position of said switch blades when moved by the handle.

6. In a switch of the class described, the combination of a base having terminal contacts ending in substantially the same plane but having portions of the base adjacent the terminals ending in different planes, a switching member having the following instrumentalities: a bearing stud one end of which is adapted to enter the base, the other to receive a handle in one position only. a stop arm next to the handle end, a series of switch blades insulated from but held against the stop arm by a combined clamping and wearing plate; a cover adapted to be attached to said base in such a manner as to draw the wearing plate of the switching member into contact with the base whereby the switch blades will strike only the contact terminals as the switching member is moved, said cover also carrying means adapted to` cooperate with the stop arm to define the position of the switching member as it is moved.

7. In a switch of the class described, the combination of a base having terminal contacts ending in substantially the same plane but having portions of the base adjacent the terminals ending in different planes, a switching member having the following instrumentalities: a bearing stud one end of which is adapted to enter the base, the other to receive a handle in one position only, a

stop arm next to the handle end, a series of switch blades insulated from but held against the stop arm by a combined clamping and wearing plate; a cover for said base, screws non-removably attached to the cover for fastening the cover to the base whereby the switching member is also drawn to its working position, as described, said cover having a stop plate riveted thereto, said rivets acting as end stops vtor the stop arm, holes in the stop plate and a ball yieldingly supported in the end of the stop arm adapted to cooperate with the holes in the stop plate whereby the various positions of the switching member may be deiined.

8. In a switch of the class described, a base of insulating material having contact terminals molded therein but having their ends projecting in substantially the same plane above the insulating material whereby surface leakage is reduced and the switch blades do not come in contact with the insulating material, a switching member having a guiding stem adapted to cooperate with the base and carrying switch blades extending diametrically across the base to cross-connect certain of said contacts, said switch blades being turned inward toward said base to form knife engagingA surfaces, said guiding stem carrying a stop arm and a handle, a cover for the switch and means carried by the cover adapted to cooperate with the stop arm to dei'ine the position of the switch blades, as they are moved.

9. In a switch of the characterdescribed, a base of insulating material having electrical contacts molded therein, `a switching member consistinfr of a stud carrying a Series of fiat springs having inturned knife edges and a stop arm, a cover', means to fasten the cover to the base, said cover also serving to position the switching member in operative position between the base and cover, a handle having a stem to pass through the cover and adapted to engage the switching member and means carried by the stop arm and cover to define the position of the switch blades as they are moved by the handle.

l0. In a switch ot the character described, a base et' insulating material liaving electrical contacts molded therein, a switching member consisting of a stud carrying a series of i'lat springs having inturned knife edges and a stop arm, a cover, means to fasten the cover to the base. said cover also serving to position the switching member in operative position between the base and cover, a handle having a stem to pass through the cover and adapted to engage the switching member and means carried by the stop arin and cover to define the position of the switch blades as they are moved by the handle, said electrical contacts being above the adjacent insulating material whereby the ends of the springs do not come in contact with only the electrical contacts as and 'for the purpose described.

In witness whereof` I aiiix my signature.

CARL T. MASON. 

